Julian Jack retains top spot unopposed

Returned President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association (SVGCA), Julian Jack, has embraced the concept of “Together Now”, as he seeks to add more cohesion to his Executive.{{more}}

Jack made this position clear soon after being given the presidential stamp of approval for his third consecutive two-year tenure, last Saturday at the President’s Suite at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

He retained the top spot unopposed, as the SVGCA elected its new Executive to administer its affairs.

Jack plans to get new faces meshed with the old ones, as they work together to get the business of cricket going.

The President, who was the understudy to long-standing President Lennox John, was elevated in 2005, after John demitted office.

Jack, in his acceptance speech, which came just after 5 p.m. after a marathon Annual General Meeting, also promised greater emphasis being placed on youth Cricket.

He thanked the affiliates for the confidence placed in him and the other re-elected members who got their endorsement.

The elections of officers followed lengthy discourses on the Executive Report for 2007 to 2008, as well as the Audited Financial Statement of the Association for that period.

Jack’s position was among four which went unopposed, as all but two persons were returned from the previous Executive.

The indefatigable Secretary, Samuel Holder, his assistant Thaddeus Seymour and Treasurer Daniel Mac Millan, did not need the anxiety of the secret ballots, as they were nominated without any challengers.

But this was not the case with the Association’s First Vice President, Elson Crick.

Many came to the meeting armed to the teeth to take “Crick out of Cricket”. But they had their wishes dashed, as Crick, a seasoned cricket administrator, who is also a Windwards Board Vice- President and a delegate to the West Indies Cricket Board, beat his challenger Cecil Charles by five votes – 27 to 22.

There were 50 eligible voters, with one spoiled ballot.

The other major position that went to the affiliates’ ink was inevitable, as outgoing Second Vice President Clarence Thomas had thrown in the towel prior to Saturday’s meeting.

Filling his position is Selwyn Allen, who is also a national selector and a member of the local umpires’ panel. Allen, a former national senior player during the 1970s and a former national senior team manager, totalled 28 votes to Dougal James’ 19, as one voter abstained and two were spoiled.

But President Jack, who again preached inclusion, promised to call on James’ expertise and that of former committee member Peter Campbell, as the need arises.

Campbell did not impress the affiliates enough and saw his place taken by Charles, who after losing his bid for the First Vice President’s post got the nod as a committee member.

Charles and returned members George Byron, Roger Davis and Calvin Glasgow completed the choices made by the affiliates at Saturday’s meeting.

A resolution was tabled at the end of the Meeting, which will be forwarded to the respective authorities, to have the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association assume stewardship of all cricket in the state, as a means of streamlining its operations, with the ultimate aim of advancing the standard of the sport.